Upcoming Concerts

Gueller new principal guest of Cape Town Philharmonic

Bernhard Gueller has been appointed principal guest conductor of the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, effective immediately. The decision was made after wide consultation and input from the musicians. His association with the orchestras in Cape Town goes back to his debut with the CTSO in 1994, after which he came to conduct almost annually, settling here in 1998. He is currently music director of Symphony Nova Scotia in Halifax in Canada, a position he has held since 2003 and will relinquish in about two years to become conductor laureate there. He has also been principal conductor of the CTPO, music director of the Nuremberg Symphony, and principal guest conductor of the JPO and the Victoria Symphony. Read more here.

CPYWE at Artscape; on tour

October 1 sees the CPYWE under the direction of Faan Malan performing in the Brass Band Extravaganza, Vuthela- Blowing up a Storm! at Artscape Theatre at 15:00. This concert aims to promote musical literacy and social cohesion and is showcasing not only the CPYWE but other young brass band woodwind musicians. Then, our 60 brass and woodwind musicians of the CPYWE travel to the Langeberg. On October 3 in the morning they will give a community concert in Ashbury, and 17:30 will play in the NG Kerk in Montague. The next day they will play in the NG Kerk in Robertson at 19:00. Workshops are being arranged in Ashbury and Robertson. Wind band conductor Faan Malan will be at the helm.

Community concerts next month

In the first week of October, before the musicians head into rehearsals for Carmen (opening October 20 at Artscape Opera) and The Armed Man with the Philharmonia Choir and Richard Cock (October 15 at the City Hall), they will be doing community concerts is at the Edith Stephens Nature Reserve in Mannenberg on Saturday, October 1 at 12:00; at Kayamandi in Stellenbosch on October 2 at 15:00; and at GrandWest Foodcourt on October 5, at 12:00. Entrance is free. Brandon Phillips will take the musicians through a programme of light and lively music.

CPO in Wales and London

While some of the musicians are playing in Sleeping Beauty, others are playing in The Mandela Trilogy in the UK. After the opening concert in Cardiff, The Times of London wrote that the opera is â€œpunchier and more vivid than before, helped by stirring playing from the Cape Town Philharmonic, the 12 Ensemble and conductor Tim Murray in the pit.â€ In her spare time, double bass Zanelle Britz attended a rehearsal of the Berlin Philharmonic at the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall where she met Simon Rattle!

Donations to the Youth Orchestra

Support by individuals and companies makes it possible for the CPO to introduce children from underprivileged communities to the world of music. Thanks to

Friends of Orchestral Music for 2 violins (donated by Karinina Ingwerson and ME Auret) and four recorders donated Dr Theodore Rousseau. (FOM also donated a restored piano to Bloekombos Secondary School in Kraaifontein. This was given by Marina Richards.)

Michael Maas for the gift of a cello

Paddy Wright for the gift of a bass guitar

New season winner

Renewing subscriber Mrs Sue Lashbrook is the winner of dinner with maestro Omri Hadari. We are also offering seats to that same dinner for new subscribers who have signed up by November 3. Sales for the season are exceeding expectations at this early stage, and the first performance of the Symphony no 9, Choral, is all but sold out. More on the season here.

R50 000 donated to Drought Relief through CPYO concert

Two concerts in Gariep and Upington had packed halls eating out of the hands of our talented and enthusiastic CPYO musicians. As a result, R50 000 was donated to the Drought Relief Fund from the Upington concert which benefited many farmers. With Chad Hendricks on the podium and with one concert led by visiting guest concertmaster Jeffrey Armstrong and the other by concertmaster Joshua Lewis, the excitement of Pieter en die Wolf, narrated by Phillip de Vos, was tangible. The narrator also took this picture at lunch in Beaufort West on the way up. Read more here.

ATKV's national classical vocal competition

The final round with Brandon Phillips and the Cape Town Philharmonic of the ATKV-Muziqanto, a national classical vocal competition for young adult singers, takes place at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in Parow on 24 September. More information at www.atkv.org.za

November 10 concert to honour David Tidboald

September 23 sees the 90th birthday of David Tidboald, a man who established two orchestras (CAPAB and KZN Philharmonic) and was resident conductor of a third, the then Cape Town Municipal Orchestra. Maestro Tidboald will be honoured in Durban at a concert later this month, while the CPO will honour him at the first concert in the new season, on November 10. Happy birthday, Maestro. We hope you have many many more in good health.

Masidlale in the Opera Bar

Learners between the ages of 5 and 16 in the CPOâ€™s Masidlale grassroots training projects will present a short concert in the Artscape Opera Bar on Friday, 23 September, at 13:00. Learners from Khayelitsha will perform a mix of humming songs, minuets and ensembles while new students who have just joined the project will join in. There are 63 learners in five strings projects in Langa, Nyanga, Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Atlantis, and one woodwinds project in Mamre. On hand will be some of their teachers â€“ Siyabulela Nteta, Tembisa Ntshongontshi, Ash-Lee Louwskieter and Odile Lesch, the head of strings. All welcome and entrance is free.

CPYO members in chamber concert

Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra members participating in the Chamber Music for Change concert at Erin Hall on September 18 at 18:30 are former concertmaster Jeffrey Armstrong, Seul Pearl Jung, principal cello, principal viola Stephanie Lawrenson and principal bassoon Jean Botha. They will be joined by other young musicians and will play Beethoven's Septet and works by Puccini and Schubert.